A Memphis man has been sentenced to 13.75 years in federal prison for his role in transporting over 26 pounds of methamphetamine on a Memphis-bound airplane.
Michael Jefferson, 45, of Memphis, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute approximately 12 kilos of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee announced today.
According to information presented in court, on March 26, 2022, officers with the Memphis Airport Police, detectives with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Narcotics Division, and special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration were conducting routine drug searches at the Memphis International Airport when a drug detection dog gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics inside luggage belonging to Jefferson.
A search of the luggage revealed 12 kilos of methamphetamine, or just over 26 pounds. Jefferson pled guilty to the offense and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris on July 20, 2023.
Jefferson will also serve 3 years of supervised release after his prison sentence. This case was investigated by the Memphis Airport Police, the Shelby County Narcotics Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf. Jefferson’s sentence is a reminder of the gravity of transporting narcotics on a commercial airline.
As the investigation revealed, the presence of narcotics on an airplane can have devastating consequences for the safety of passengers and crew members.
The Memphis community should take note of this case and remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Griswold, Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, New York 2023 · Tennessee
- Michael Griswold, Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, New York 2022 · Tennessee
- Kelvin Melton, Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute… · Tennessee
- Anthony Laquesa Coleman, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Tennessee 2015 · New York
- Eddie Lee Hunt, Marijuana Possession with Intent to Distribute, MS … · Tennessee
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking